Oconee jobless numbers rose in January

A good end to the year did not translate into the first month of this year, when it comes to who’s working in Oconee County and who’s not. The South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce today released the January unemployment picture for the state, which showed Oconee’s jobless rate rose in January to 5%, from December’s 4.1%. In numbers, it means 861 fewer Oconeeans were working from the one month to the next. Statewide, unemployment percentages ranged from a low of 4% in Charleston County to a high of 10.1% in Fairfield County. The state in January averaged 4.3% unemployment; the nation averaged 4.1%. Richard Blackwell of the Oconee Economic Alliance reacted this way: “This is seen every year unfortunately as an adjustment is made with employment related to seasonal hires concluding. The prospects for a strong 2018 economy remain high so hopefully this is a temporary setback.” And, speaking last Friday, Blackwell said the local economy this year will be strengthened by some 200 jobs to be created by the new Hartwell Village Shopping Center and the new Hobby Lobby store at Applewood Shopping Center.